International Service exemplifies our global reach in promoting peace and understanding. We support this service avenue by sponsoring or volunteering on international projects, seeking partners abroad, and more.

A major component of international service is done through supporting global grants from The Rotary Foundation.

The projects below are just a few examples of international projects.

WOMEN OF NEPAL GLOBAL GRANT

LET’S JOIN TOGETHER AND BE A PART OF THE “WOMEN OF NEPAL” GLOBAL GRANT PROJECT

Prolapse and Maternal & Child welfare in Charikot, Nepal

Australians for women’s health in Nepal is an incorporated body, based in District 9650 in Port Macquarie, Australia. Since 2010, a group of Doctors, led by Rotarian Dr Ray Hodgson, has been travelling to Nepal to perform operations on women who are suffering from horrific effects of prolapse after childbirth. The effects are pain, difficulty walking and sitting, incontinence, and worse, they are abandoned by their husbands.

The two main issues for women in Nepal are Uterine Prolapse and Pregnancy deaths

A very crude 25 bed hospital in the Himalayan foothills where they operate was wiped out in the 2015 earthquake. Since then, the group has been fundraising to build a purpose built maternal and child welfare facility to treat women and bring down the mortality rate in both mothers and infants. In Australia only 6 in 100,000 women die in childbirth. In Nepal the number is 560 in 100,000 births.

District 9650 is seeking a partner or partners to apply for a Global Grant to completely fit out the building with the operating equipment and facilities they will need. This will include operating theatres, operating instruments, neo natal equipment, humidicribs, beds etc.

The Australian Doctors have also been providing training for surgeons and midwives, to provide sustainable aid, and the continuance of the project.

The situation is now desperate -they have been operating in a Tent Hospital. This project, and the doctors who are giving freely of their aid, is more than worthy of our support.

District 7680’s goal to support this effort is to have all of our 58 clubs donate A MININUM OF $ 100 to this global grant and the District will match the amount raised (up to $ 5,000) from District Designated Funds.

Your donation will qualify you as participating in a Global Grant for the District Club of Excellence award

Leverage of funds

Club donations: $ 5,800

District match: $ 5,000

RI World Fund Match $ 10,800

Total $ 21,600

Other Rotary Districts and individuals are also supporting this very worthwhile cause.

Please consider this in your 2018-19 budget planning.

MT. KILIMANJARO CLIMB TO END POLIO NOW

Over $175,000 raised for Rotary's campaign to End Polio Now

Since 2012 and as of July 2018, 65 climbers, mostly Rotarians from our District, have climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and raised over $175,000 for the PolioPlus fund at The Rotary Foundation. Much of this has been matched 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Next year's climb will be in July 2019. Contact Mike Walker for more information at either mwalker@stephens.com or 704-589-2754.

ROTARY FRIENDSHIP EXCHANGE

ROTARY FRIENDSHIP EXCHANGE - INDIA

Rotary Friendship Exchange is Rotary's international exchange program for Rotarians and their families. Friendship Exchange provides participants the opportunity to experience other cultures by staying in the homes of Rotarians in other countries. The program aims to advance international understanding and peace through personal contact across borders while developing inter-district relationships for fellowship and service projects.